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 Add texture, color into black designs

By Bethany Waldrop Keiper

"People can have the Model T in any colour--so long as it's black." -- Henry Ford 

When the fall fashion reports announced that black is back in fashion for 2005, that was good news to me, because in my wardrobe, basically, black has never left. It has always been one of my favorite colors to wear -- it's both somber and sexy, and slimming.

Texture is expected to play a major role in fashion choices this fall, so choose beads to reflect this trend in your designs.

The matte, swirled, black oval disks combined with shiny-smooth black 'dime' beads make a study in contrasts, shapes, and finishes -- smooth vs. patterned, oval vs. round, and matte vs. shiny.

For pendants, black onyx is lovely set in sterling silver and worn on a thick silver necklace, a black leather cord, or braided black ribbon. Impressive pendants like this one are perfect for times when a gemstone's unique colors and properties make a difference. Onyx is believed to help bring about emotional stability and determination.
 

They might have been though of as evil long ago, but no one can deny the charm of a pressed glass black cat face, paired with a facetted black bead and gold metal. Although they may be associated with Halloween and midnight skies, cat lovers will find many opportunities to wear a pair of earrings like this.

These are great to make and donate to animal-saving organizations as items for a raffle or simply as a thank-you to the volunteers for their hard work.
 

If monochrome seems monotone to you, dress up your black beaded designs with other popular colors from this fall's fashion lineup. Hyacinth orange beads are a brighter twin for fall's popular pumpkin, while the fall-favored gunmetal gray can be matched with black pearls or shining hematite rounds. Be sure to include plenty of gold, silver, or copper beads or accents in your fall designs, as the metallic colors are forecasted to be very popular.

With its elegant, glittery gold tubes and textured black disks, this design will carry you through the fall season. Bright orange 4 mm beads provide an eye-catching accent.

 

This design combination brings together the metallics, bright colors, and popular textured black predicted for popularity this autumn season.

Black metal adds an extra dimension of interest to jewelry designs, if you can find it to use in your designs. Black crimp beads and bead-stringing wire are becoming easier to find, while headpins, bails, and earring hooks continue to be elusive.

Some fashion sources even suggest wearing black from head to toe for fall. Someone has finally picked up on my trendsetting ways. I've been doing this off and on for years and years -- even decades -- and I'm not even a Goth chick.

Fashion information from many sources, including the Budget Fashionista.
Orange facetted firepolished beads courtesy of the Bead Peddler.
Onyx pendant available through the Bead Peddler.
Information about black onyx courtesy of Connie Barrett and Joyce Kaessinger of Beyond the Rainbow. http://www.rainbowcrystal.com


 

 

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